Chronicle - 2011

February 3

On February 3 the opening ceremony was held for the K.U.Leuven Centre for Russian Studies.

The main objective of the Centre is to diffuse the knowledge of Russian language, culture and society, both on an academic level and for the wider public. The Centre will provide a forum that enables both academics and the wider public to get acquainted with and discuss Russian culture, literature, language, history and society from an interdisciplinary perspective, through regular lectures, forum discussions, conferences, exhibitions, competitions and concerts.

The center is the 2nd one opened by Russkiy Mir Foundation in Belgium and the 69th opened worldwide.

The opening ceremony was attended by Minister-President of the Flemish Government Kris Peters, deputy executive director of the Russkiy Mir Foundation Tatiana Bokova and European representative of the Foundation Archpriest Antony Il'in.

The choir of our parish performed several pieces during the moleben before opening of the Centre.

February 7-11

Pilgrimage to the Monastery of St John the Baptist in Essex, England.

February 18-20

Trip to Chevetogne abbey.

Photos by Filip Smeers :

March 13

The Sunday of Orthodoxy in Brussels.

March 18

Protodeacon Alexander Kurjatkin celebrated his 60th birthday. After Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Brussels, Archbishop Simon awarded him the order of St. Serge of Radonezh.

It should be noted that in the years 2000 deacon Alexander put many efforts to revive the life of the Orthodox parish in Leuven. He was also a person connecting the present parish with the old one in which he was present together with his parents in the 1960's.

March 20

On March 20 a General Assembly of our Parish was convened. The main point on the agenda was the election of two new members of the "Kerk Fabriek". Dorin Cerbu (accountant) and Nikolaas-Jan Simons were elected as new members.

March 27

On March 27, our parish received the visit of a group of students and lecturers from the Bible Institute of Leuven.

April 24

EASTER.

May 8

May 28

Parish council.

July 30

July 30 to August 6, the annual Orthodox Summer Camp was held near Grobbendonk in Belgium. This event is traditionally organized by the Orthodox Youth Fellowships in The Netherlands (OJN) and Belgium (OJB-JOB). The pastoral team consisted of Fr. Alexander Yavarouski, Fr. Hildo Bos (Amsterdam) and Deacon Dimitry Yatsun (Antwerp).

August 28

On August 28, since Fr Alexander was on vacation, the Divine Liturgy in our parish was celebrated by Fr Serge Model (Brussels). He also gave a lecture about links between Archbishop Basil (Krivoshein) and the Mount Athos.